Overnight on-street parking pilot program approved in Holland

Holland city leaders have approved an on-street parking pilot program that will allow overnight parking similar to how these cars are lined up along Cherry Street SE Friday, February 24, 2012.Cory Morse | Mlive.com

HOLLAND, MI – After years of debate, the city of Holland will experiment with allowing overnight on-street parking on most city streets next summer.

The City Council voted 6-3 in favor of a pilot program that will get underway on May 15 of next year, after the Tulip Time Festival concludes, and run through September 30. The city has had a ban on parking on city streets between the hours of 2 and 5 a.m. for more than 50 years.

“It took six years (to get this approved),” said Councilman Jay Peters, who has long lobbied for allowing overnight on-street parking to reflect modern families who have more than one vehicle.

During the pilot period, overnight parking will only be allowed for cars and trucks with a carrying capacity of two tons or less. Boats and trailers are still banned from being parked overnight.

In addition, most downtown streets are exempt from the program, including Sixth Street from River Avenue to Columbia Avenue; Seventh and Eighth Streets from Lincoln Avenue to Maple Avenue; 10th Street from Pine Avenue to Lincoln; Pine and Lincoln from Seventh Street to 10th; Maple from Seventh to Ninth Street, and River, Central, College and Columbia from Sixth Street to 10th.

Jeannette Brownson, who lives in the central city area, favored the pilot program during a public hearing prior to the council vote.

“I think we should at least give it a try, for summer guests,” Brownson said.

Some council members proposed having a permit system for the overnight parking program, but that idea never made it to a vote.

“I think a permit system would give us some statistical evidence of the number of citizens wanting and needing (overnight) parking,” said Councilman Wayne Klomparens, who ultimately voted against implementing the pilot program.

However, Mayor Kurt Dykstra didn’t buy that idea.

“I’m not sure the permit is consistent with the overarching goal (of the program),” he said.

Dykstra was joined in the majority by Peters and fellow council members Brian Burch, Bob Vande Vusse, Dave Hoekstra and Todd Whiteman. Klomparens, Councilman Mike Trethewey and Councilwoman Nancy DeBoer voted no, with DeBoer saying the no parking policy has helped beautify the city and keep streets clean.

“We have a high quality of life, and part of it comes from the inconvenience of not allowing on-street parking between 2 and 5 a.m.,” DeBoer said.

The city will spend about $10,000 on new signs explaining the overnight parking allowance that will be installed at entrances into the city, as well as signage defining the no-parking zone downtown, City Manager Ryan Cotton said.